tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30446747958115363152017-09-21T15:09:31.962-05:00Ask DeanReal questions from Polyline customers regarding disc publishing equipment, discs and media packaging.Stacy Strunkhttps://plus.google.com/104603461302840389864noreply@blogger.comBlogger67125AskDeanhttps://feedburner.google.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3044674795811536315.post-78392576225680900522014-03-18T09:35:00.000-05:002014-03-18T09:35:00.128-05:00How Many Minutes in a 50GB XDCAM?The short answer is: it depends. It depends on things like the format you're using, the bit rate mode, the number of audio channels and the number of clips you're recording. Because of these variables, you'll see us using the term "approximately" a lot.<br /><br />The 50GB XDCAM prodisc has more than 10 times the capacity of a DVD. The dual layer media will record approximately 190 min. of SD content in DVCAM mode at 25 Mbps and 270 min of HD content in MPEG mode at 18 Mbps.<br /><br /><table style="background-color: #99cc00" width="550"> <tr> <td colspan="3" style="background-color: #99cc00; font-size: 18pt; font-weight: 900; color: #ffffff" width="392" height="28">Recording Times</td> <td width="133" height="28"></td> <td width="108" height="28"></td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: #0066ff;"> <td width="161" height="53">&nbsp;</td> <td width="95" height="53" align="center"><b>DVCAM</b></td> <td width="136" height="53" align="center"><b>IMX</b></td> <td width="133" height="53" align="center"><b>MPEG HD420</b></td> <td width="108" height="53" align="center"><b>MPEG HD422</b></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #66ccff; font-weight: 600" width="161" height="53">Format/Transfer<br> Speed (Mbps)</td> <td style="background-color: #ffffff" width="95" height="53" align="center">25</td> <td style="background-color: #ffffff" width="136" height="53" align="center">50<br> 40<br> 30</td> <td style="background-color: #ffffff" width="133" height="53" align="center">35<br> 25<br> 18</td> <td style="background-color: #66ccff" width="108" height="53" align="center">50</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #66ccff; font-weight: 600" width="161" height="54">PFD23A - 23.3GB<br> (Single Layer)</td> <td style="background-color: #ffffff" width="95" height="54" align="center">approx. 85</td> <td style="background-color: #ffffff" width="136" height="54" align="center">50: approx. 45<br> 40: approx. 55<br> 30: approx. 68</td> <td style="background-color: #ffffff" width="133" height="54" align="center">35: approx. 60<br> 25: approx. 90<br> 18: approx. 120</td> <td style="background-color: #66ccff" width="108" height="54" align="center">approx. 43</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #66ccff; font-weight: 600" width="161" height="54">PFD50DLA -50GB<br> (Dual Layer)</td> <td style="background-color: #66ccff" width="95" height="54" align="center">approx. 190</td> <td style="background-color: #66ccff" width="136" height="54" align="center">50: approx. 105<br> 40: approx. 126<br> 30: approx. 157</td> <td style="background-color: #66ccff" width="133" height="54" align="center">35:approx. 150<br> 25: approx. 200<br> 18: approx. 270</td> <td style="background-color: #66ccff" width="108" height="54" align="center">approx. 10</td> </tr> </table> <br /><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AskDean/~4/LMQludNZUVk" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Stacy Strunkhttps://plus.google.com/104603461302840389864noreply@blogger.com0http://askdeanslist.blogspot.com/2014/03/how-many-minutes-in-50gb-xdcam.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3044674795811536315.post-79766027579724442992014-03-11T09:25:00.000-05:002014-03-11T09:25:00.278-05:00What Does the Class Rating of SDHC Card Mean?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ha91vX6CTu4/UxTlxbXDrjI/AAAAAAAAC8M/E0ThemBKRpg/s1600/SDHC_CLASS.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ha91vX6CTu4/UxTlxbXDrjI/AAAAAAAAC8M/E0ThemBKRpg/s320/SDHC_CLASS.gif" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">By definition, the SDHC card's class rating is the <b>minimum </b>sustained read/write speed of an SDHC card expressed in megabytes per second (or MB/s) when recording 1080p HD video. For example, if your DCLR camera requires a Class 10 card for shooting 1080p video, that means you need a card with a minimum sustained write speed of 10MB/s to ensure proper video quality from your camera.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Remember, this is the minimum recording speed, not the maximum performance of the card. So it is possible to have a Class 10 card that boasts 30MB/s or higher read/write speeds. </div><br /><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AskDean/~4/Z9WU-fKl5eQ" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Stacy Strunkhttps://plus.google.com/104603461302840389864noreply@blogger.com0http://askdeanslist.blogspot.com/2014/03/what-does-class-rating-of-sdhc-card-mean.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3044674795811536315.post-70524395501160628802014-03-04T13:45:00.000-06:002014-03-04T13:45:00.058-06:00What is the difference between an SDHC card and an SDXC Card?SDXC is simply a higher capacity secure digital (SD) card. The capacities are divided like this:<br /><center><table style="width: 40%px;"><tbody><tr><td>0-2GB</td><td>SD Card</td></tr><tr><td>2GB-32GB</td><td>SDHC</td></tr><tr><td>greater than 32GB</td><td>SDXC</td></tr></tbody></table></center>SDXC Cards are not backwards compatible, so you can not use one in a camera that was designed to use only SDHC cards.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AskDean/~4/wMR9SYujolg" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Stacy Strunkhttps://plus.google.com/104603461302840389864noreply@blogger.com0http://askdeanslist.blogspot.com/2014/03/what-is-difference-between-sdhc-card.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3044674795811536315.post-39400400882709440212013-05-30T09:06:00.000-05:002014-03-04T11:23:26.515-06:00How do I polish out scratches on DVDs?A: Since you took the time to write in, I know that you've already tried cleaning your disc and you know for certain that your DVD is scratched.<br /><br />Your best bet is to take your DVD to a game store like Game Stop. They'll probably charge you a&nbsp; couple bucks to buff out the scratches in one of their machines, but it's worth it. <br /><br />There are some things you need to keep in mind, however. The scratch(es) may be too deep to buff out. Remember, that polycarbonate covering is pretty darn thin and there's only so much you can do. And, along the same lines, you can't keep buffing and rebuffing the same disc. Every time that disc is buffed, it's removing a thin layer of polycarbonate from the disc. <br /><br />You may have been hoping I'd weigh-in on whether or not you could buff out the scratches using toothpaste or peanut butter. Here's the thing, if your DVD is some readily-available, mass-marketed DVD, go ahead and give one of those home remedies a shot. If it works you saved yourself $5. If you accidently mess up your disc, you can get a new one for $10-15. No harm, no foul. <br /><br />But, if that disc has your wedding or some other one-of-a-kind thing on it, just take it to the professionals. It's not worth the drama of explaining to your spouse how you tried to save $5 by rubbing peanut butter on your wedding DVD.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AskDean/~4/DhLToFhiQMc" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Stacy Strunkhttps://plus.google.com/104603461302840389864noreply@blogger.com0http://askdeanslist.blogspot.com/2013/05/how-do-i-polish-out-scratches-on-dvds.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3044674795811536315.post-55204228723752728462013-01-31T11:46:00.002-06:002013-01-31T11:47:10.557-06:00Can I use LaCie Thunderbolt Hard Drive with My New Windows Computer?The new Rugged Thunderbolts and d2 Thunderbolts are already compatible with windows, but you'll need to install some new drivers from LaCie, first. Little Big Disk and 2Big thunderbolts compatibility with Windows is "pending." <br /><br />LaCie has created a Web page for Windows users: <a href="http://www.lacie.com/us/more/?id=10139">http://www.lacie.com/us/more/?id=10139</a>, which <br /><br />provides more information on which models are currently compatible and links for any driver updates.<br /><br />Remember, you still need a computer with Thunderbolt ports to use Thunderbolt hard drives. These drivers will not make your Thunderbolt drive work on a computer that does not already have the Thunderbolt port.<br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AskDean/~4/kK1vloFSCjA" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Stacy Strunkhttps://plus.google.com/104603461302840389864noreply@blogger.com1http://askdeanslist.blogspot.com/2013/01/can-i-use-lacie-thunderbolt-hard-drive.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3044674795811536315.post-60132475943490966972012-05-15T07:30:00.000-05:002012-05-15T07:30:02.082-05:00What is your view on the adoption of the Thunderbolt interface on the production industry?<div>Q: What is your view on the adoption of the Thunderbolt interface on the production industry? How long will it take to replace FireWire and other interfaces?<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5EhWRYFiUxA/T5WfQVP2rcI/AAAAAAAAA-0/vxORy_Ffr-k/s1600/thunderbolt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Thunderbolt cables" border="0" height="208" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5EhWRYFiUxA/T5WfQVP2rcI/AAAAAAAAA-0/vxORy_Ffr-k/s320/thunderbolt.jpg" title="thunderbolt" width="320" /></a></div>A: For those of us who require the higher data rates and will really benefit from the higher data rates of the Thunderbolt (like those who are in the production industry), the technology will be adopted very quickly. This first group of early adopters is the driving force that demonstrates a viable market exists. <br /><br />Up until now, the supply of <a href="http://www.polylinecorp.com/Search.asp?SCRIT=thunderbolt" target="_blank">Thunderbolt products</a> has been somewhat limited. But, as we have many more manufacturers starting to make the Thunderbolt chip and supply becomes more steady, prices will ultimately start coming down.<br /><br />You'll probably see, int he next year or so, a much larger scale of adoption. I don't know that it will completely replace FireWire, especially if you're working in a slower workflow environment. Ultimately, in the next 2-3 years, you'll probably start to see it disappear in favor of Thunderbolt, as the price comes down and we see wider adoption taking place among those not in our industry. <br /><br /></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AskDean/~4/I1j2Hq1Bvfg" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Stacy Strunkhttps://plus.google.com/104603461302840389864noreply@blogger.com0http://askdeanslist.blogspot.com/2012/05/what-is-your-view-on-adoption-of.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3044674795811536315.post-36579916043852038552012-05-08T07:30:00.000-05:002012-05-08T07:30:00.957-05:00Is there really a difference between SDHC brands?<br /><div class="MsoNormal">Q: There are many brands of SDHC memory cards available. Is there really any difference?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GgnOPtHnOhM/T5Wg-BxduBI/AAAAAAAAA_E/4JiXtpat0Yo/s1600/extreme_sdhc_32gb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GgnOPtHnOhM/T5Wg-BxduBI/AAAAAAAAA_E/4JiXtpat0Yo/s320/extreme_sdhc_32gb.jpg" width="258" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>A: Let me tell you about one of my coworkers who writes a hobby blog. She frequently takes pictures and videos of events to use with her updates. She also uses the cheapest SDHC card she can find (and she <i>should know</i> better). She told me, if she lost the content on the cards or the data became corrupted, she’d be upset but not <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">heartbroken</i>. "It's a hobby site," she said shrugging her shoulders. It's a calculated risk and one she's willing to make.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Ask yourself, would you be heartbroken, even devastated if you lost the content on your SDHC card? If you answered “yes,” you should stick with a <a href="http://www.polylinecorp.com/category-viewall.asp?M=SDHC-Cards" target="_blank">professional-quality, brand-name SDHC card.</a> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The primary difference among SDHC memory cards is their controllers. The controller is the traffic cop that directs where the data is written on the flash card. A good controller will reduce the likelihood that any one sector will wear out prematurely, so the life of the card is maximized and you come home (or to your office) with your photos or video content in tact.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">SanDisk is known as being one of the high-end, professional-grade SDHC cards you’ll want to purchase. They are one of the few manufacturers to make their own controllers. SanDisk is so well respected, in fact, there are certain online auction sites that are rife with counterfeits. So, where you purchase your SDHC cards is important, too. Buy from a <a href="http://www.polylinecorp.com/" target="_blank"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">trusted</b> reseller</a>: someone with a phone number, someone who’s been around for a while, someone like Polyline. </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AskDean/~4/tyIAFvvqgbo" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Stacy Strunkhttps://plus.google.com/104603461302840389864noreply@blogger.com0http://askdeanslist.blogspot.com/2012/05/is-there-really-difference-between-sdhc.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3044674795811536315.post-41002766542007915332012-05-01T07:30:00.000-05:002013-10-23T10:01:59.365-05:00Assorted Thunderbolt Questions<div>We've received a lot of questions recently about the thunderbolt Interface. It's an exciting and new technology and there's been a lot of chatter in the production industry about its adaptation. Because most of the questions I've received require short answers, I thought I'd try to tackle them here in one inclusive post.<br /><br />If you have additional questions, you can send a message <a href="http://askdeanslist.blogspot.com/p/ask-dean-your-question.html" target="_blank">here</a> or on our <a href="http://www.facebook.com/PolylineCorp" target="_blank">FB page</a>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5EhWRYFiUxA/T5WfQVP2rcI/AAAAAAAAA-0/vxORy_Ffr-k/s1600/thunderbolt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Thunderbolt Cables" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5EhWRYFiUxA/T5WfQVP2rcI/AAAAAAAAA-0/vxORy_Ffr-k/s320/thunderbolt.jpg" title="Thunderbolt" width="320" /></a></div>Q: What options are available if you have data on a Thunderbolt, but the computer you're connecting to isn't Thunderbolt ready?<br /><br />A: At this time, you can only connect to a computer that is Thunderbolt enabled.<br /><br />Q: Can we expect to see drives with multiple connections? Like Thunderbolt plus FireWire?<br /><br />A: At this point, no one makes a chip set that merges both Thunderbolt and other drive interfaces. Adding FireWire would add to the cost of Thunderbolt drives so I don't see this happening in the near future. (Maybe once there's a wider adoption of the technology.) At this time, you need to have a new computer with the Thunderbolt chip set to use Thunderbolt.<br /><br /><b>5-11-2012 edit: </b>LaCie makes an eSATA-Thunderbolt Hub that allows you to connect eSATA drives to a new Thunderbolt-enabled Mac. It was created for companies that currently use eSATA drives and have upgraded their Macs to versions without ExpressCard/34 slots. It also provides a way for creatives to boost their eSATA drive performance.<br /><br />Q: Do Thunderbolt drives come with the cable?<br /><br />A: No. At this time, Apple is the only source for the cable. That may change once more companies start manufacturing the cable. To keep costs low, the drive manufacturers are not including the cable. However, if you buy a <a href="https://www.polylinecorp.com/Search.asp?SCRIT=thunderbolt" target="_blank">Thunderbolt drive from Polyline</a>, we have some <a href="http://www.polylinecorp.com/productlist.asp?OPT=150005000060000070" target="_blank">drive/cable bundles available</a>.<br /><br />Q: Is there a limit to how many drives can be daisy chained together and is there any loss of speed with multiple drives attached?<br /><br />A: There is a limit to 6 devices that can be daisy chained together. There is no loss of speed from daisy chaining. The maximum transfer speed is 800MB/s write and up to 10 GB/s for read.<br /><br />Q: Can you get thunderbolt cards for a computer that doesn't have it?<br /><br />A: Not at this time.<br /><br />Q: Any plans for an SSD model Thunderbolt?<br /><br />A: I talked to G-Technology and was told, at this time the answer is no. But Western Digital, which recently acquired G-Tech, does have an SSD division. Although there are no official plans, we can totally see this happening in the near future.</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AskDean/~4/-kYPlf2QndM" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Stacy Strunkhttps://plus.google.com/104603461302840389864noreply@blogger.com0http://askdeanslist.blogspot.com/2012/05/assorted-thunderbolt-questions.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3044674795811536315.post-6196583885513805382012-04-24T07:30:00.000-05:002012-04-24T07:30:03.084-05:00What are the classes for SDHC cards and what do they mean?<br /><div class="MsoNormal">Q: What are the classes for SDHC cards and what do they mean?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J60rC-aDouQ/T5Wic592QSI/AAAAAAAAA_M/2yJV_zf-sMI/s1600/class4-class6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Class 4 and Class 10 SDHC Cards" border="0" height="187" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J60rC-aDouQ/T5Wic592QSI/AAAAAAAAA_M/2yJV_zf-sMI/s320/class4-class6.jpg" title="SDHC Class Designation" width="320" /></a></div>A: SDHC cards can typically have a <a href="http://www.polylinecorp.com/productlist.asp?OPT=sandisk-ultra-sdhc" target="_blank">Class 4</a>, <a href="http://www.polylinecorp.com/productlist.asp?OPT=verbatim-class6-sdhc" target="_blank">Class 6</a>, or&nbsp; <a href="http://www.polylinecorp.com/category-three.asp?DVD=flash-memory-%7C-SDHC-Cards-%7C-class-10-sdhc" target="_blank">Class10</a> designation. The class rating system is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">only </b>relevant when shooting full 1080p HD video onto SDHC cards. It is not applicable to CompactFlash cards and is not relevant to still photography whatsoever. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">By definition, class is the minimum sustained read/ write speed of an <a href="http://www.polylinecorp.com/category-viewall.asp?M=SDHC-Cards" target="_blank">SDHC card</a> expressed in megabytes per second (or MB/s). The class system was developed when flash based video came into vogue a few years ago, as a means to ensure the end result would be a drop-out free video when viewed on a television or PC. For example, your camera manual specs a Class 6 card for shooting 1080p video. This means you need a card with a minimum sustained write speed of 6MB/s (megabytes per second) to ensure proper video quality from your camera/camcorder.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">In addition, the class rating is the minimum video recording speed of the card, not the maximum performance (speed) of the card</span><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AskDean/~4/lLludAp28Rw" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Stacy Strunkhttps://plus.google.com/104603461302840389864noreply@blogger.com0http://askdeanslist.blogspot.com/2012/04/what-are-classes-for-sdhc-cards-and.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3044674795811536315.post-19058625437942063052011-09-07T13:58:00.004-05:002012-03-21T09:23:12.578-05:00I’m considering buying a Spare Drive for my G-Safe. What is the best way to use it?A: Good question. A spare drive is useful to have in case of an emergency. (Even the best drives go bad.) It’s also a good way to create an off-site backup. More on that later. Right now, let’s assume the G-Safe alarm has sounded, alerting you that one of your drives has failed.<br /><br /><b>Step 1: Mute that pesky alarm. </b><br />The mute button is located on the front of G-Safe unit, right below the status LED.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V0CylI_qX50/Tme8HyHQhCI/AAAAAAAAAEA/vrbnxo8oKM8/s1600/mutebutton.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V0CylI_qX50/Tme8HyHQhCI/AAAAAAAAAEA/vrbnxo8oKM8/s1600/mutebutton.gif" /></a></div><br /><b>Step 2: Identify the injured drive.</b><br />Your LCD panel will tell you which drive failed.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MKt11Pxtg2I/Tme8NrCY2sI/AAAAAAAAAEE/qFEKSvs_nDs/s1600/failed.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MKt11Pxtg2I/Tme8NrCY2sI/AAAAAAAAAEE/qFEKSvs_nDs/s1600/failed.gif" /></a></div><br /><br />Also, a blue LED will light up on the failed drive. Be careful not to remove the wrong drive; the results could be catastrophic.<br /><br /><b>Step 3: Remove the failed drive.</b><br />Use the special “key” you received with your G-Safe to unlock the drive and gently remove the module.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tLdle_w9els/Tme8l4KqGtI/AAAAAAAAAEI/GXWPUcVToZ0/s1600/key.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tLdle_w9els/Tme8l4KqGtI/AAAAAAAAAEI/GXWPUcVToZ0/s1600/key.jpg" /></a></div><br /><b>Step 4: Insert the new drive.</b><br />The G-Safe will now ask you (via the LCD screen) whether you want to rebuild the new drive. Press the “ENT” button to begin the process. (It’s just left of the mute button.) Or to cancel, press the “ESC” button (that one is to the left of the status LED).<br /><br /><b>Step 5: Wait.</b><br />The G-Safe is now rebuilding the new drive. This will take a very, very long time: anywhere from 8 to 12 hours (or longer) for a 2TB unit. You’ll know the rebuild is complete when you see this message:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BHx7EhLspdo/Tme8-4XLOAI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/fgvCj3YhGfE/s1600/ok.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BHx7EhLspdo/Tme8-4XLOAI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/fgvCj3YhGfE/s1600/ok.gif" /></a></div><br />Because the G-Safe can rebuild your data when a drive is replaced, you can add a layer of protection by storing a copy of your drive offsite. By rotating the drives regularly, you’ll always have a copy of your data.<br /><br /><a name="offsite">To create your offsite copy:</a><br /><br /><b>Step 1: Unmount your G-Safe from your computer and turn it off.</b><br />For Mac, you just drag the G-Safe icon to the trash located in the dock, and you’re ready to power down. For PC, you’ll need to right click on the “eject” icon (bottom of your monitor, near the clock). You’ll get a popup message that reads “Safely Remove Hardware,” click on the box. You’ll get another popup window that shows your hardware devices. Make sure the G-Safe drive is highlighted and click on the “stop” button. Now, you can turn off the power.<br /><br /><b>Step 2: Remove the one of the drives and turn the unit back on.</b><br />An alarm will sound and the G-Safe’s LCD display will tell you that one drive is OK and the other drive is missing.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bJOYpY47yRY/Tme8weIGWMI/AAAAAAAAAEM/4Ltg8gNOScc/s1600/missing.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bJOYpY47yRY/Tme8weIGWMI/AAAAAAAAAEM/4Ltg8gNOScc/s1600/missing.gif" /></a></div><br />Press the mute button.<br /><br /><b>Step 3: With the G-Safe still on, insert the new drive into the unit.</b><br />The LCD screen will ask you if you want to rebuild the drive you just inserted. Press the “ENT” button and wait for the drive to rebuild the data onto the new drive. Once this is finished you can safely transport the drive you removed to an offsite location.<br /><br />Remember, although the G-Safe is an extremely reliable RAID-1 solution, providing mirrored, redundant working storage of your data, like any hard drive, given the right circumstances, it can fail and data could be lost. This is why needs to be backed up to a stable archival media such as LTO or Blu-ray. Your Polyline sales rep can explain more about the archival media options available to you.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AskDean/~4/RRMqej_KWik" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Dean Engelnoreply@blogger.com0http://askdeanslist.blogspot.com/2011/09/q-im-considering-buying-spare-drive-for.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3044674795811536315.post-27318621428889439662011-07-21T08:00:00.003-05:002011-08-02T12:41:12.493-05:00Why does the Four-Layer disc only have 128GB capacity? Why didn’t the capacity double again?The capacity per layer is different in the Single Layer/Dual Layer, Triple Layer and Quadruple Layer formats:<br /><br /><table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 500px;"><tbody><tr> <td valign="top" width="35%"><br /></td> <td valign="top" width="10%"><br /><div align="center" style="text-align: center;">Single Layer</div></td> <td valign="top" width="10%"><br /><div align="center" style="text-align: center;">Dual Layer</div></td> <td valign="top" width="20%"><br /><div align="center" style="text-align: center;">Triple Layer</div></td> <td valign="top" width="25%"><br />Quadruple Layer </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width="35%"><br /><b>Total Capacity</b></td> <td align="center" valign="top" width="10%">25GB</td> <td align="center" valign="top" width="10%"><br />50GB</td> <td align="center" valign="top" width="101">100GB</td> <td align="center" valign="top" width="25%">128GB</td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width="35%"><br /><b>Capacity per Layer</b></td> <td align="center" colspan="2" valign="top" width="20%"><div align="center" style="text-align: center;">25GB</div></td> <td align="center" valign="top" width="20%">33.4GB</td> <td align="center" valign="top" width="25%">32GB</td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width="35%"><br /><b>Minimum Mark Width</b></td> <td align="center" colspan="2" valign="top" width="223"><div align="center" style="text-align: center;">.149 µm</div></td> <td align="center" valign="top" width="20%"><br />.112 µm</td> <td align="center" valign="top" width="25%"><br />.117 µm</td> </tr></tbody></table><br />------<br />Polyline has triple-layer, 100GB, recordable BDXL discs in stock and ready to<br />ship. Want to learn more? Visit <a href="http://www.polylinecorp.com/Line1/">http://www.PolylineCorp.com/Line1/</a>.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AskDean/~4/FHRPNTeDqC8" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Dean Engelnoreply@blogger.com0http://askdeanslist.blogspot.com/2011/07/why-does-four-layer-disc-only-have.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3044674795811536315.post-48409041339850378822011-07-19T08:00:00.002-05:002011-07-19T08:00:19.096-05:00Can my current recorder/player read/write the BDXL format?Legacy Blu-ray devices cannot read the new BDXL format. The BDA created a new BDXL logo to distinguish the new BDXL media and devices from the legacy machines. If your device does not have the new BDXL logo, than it is a legacy machine.<br /><br /><br />It is not mandatory, but a new device supporting BDXL discs can be easily designed to support the 15GB/50GB discs. So the new specs say that it’s possible that new BDXL machines can read/write to older discs, but it’s not required.<br /><br /><P>------</p><p>Polyline has triple-layer, 100GB, recordable BDXL discs in stock and ready to<br />ship. Want to learn more? Visit <a href="http://www.PolylineCorp.com/Line1/">http://www.PolylineCorp.com/Line1/</a>.</p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AskDean/~4/IY-4Bksc0RY" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Dean Engelnoreply@blogger.com2http://askdeanslist.blogspot.com/2011/07/can-my-current-recorderplayer-readwrite.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3044674795811536315.post-18099511000742474962011-07-14T08:00:00.004-05:002012-03-21T09:40:22.568-05:00What is BDXL?BDXL is a multi-layer recordable Blu-ray disc format with up to 128GB capacity. In April 2010, the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA) created specifications for triple-layer, 100GB Recordable and Rewritable discs and a quadruple-layer, 128GB for Recordable disc. Both the triple-layer and quadruple-layer formats can be called BDXL.<br /><br />The high capacity format is being targeted at commercial segments such as broadcasting, medical and document imaging enterprises with significant archiving needs. The BDXL format was created as a long-term and stable solution for archiving large amounts of sensitive data, video and graphic images.<br />------<br />Polyline has triple-layer, 100GB, recordable BDXL discs in stock and ready to<br />ship. Want to learn more? Visit <a href="http://www.polylinecorp.com/productlist.asp?OPT=line-1-media-bdxl-100gb">http://www.polylinecorp.com/productlist.asp?OPT=line-1-media-bdxl-100gb</a>.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AskDean/~4/R9PdU5kMZfY" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Dean Engelnoreply@blogger.com0http://askdeanslist.blogspot.com/2011/07/what-is-bdxl.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3044674795811536315.post-90321654728954229452011-06-07T08:30:00.010-05:002011-06-07T08:30:01.609-05:00How do thermal disc printers work?<b>A: </b>There are a couple of different ways that thermal disc printers work, both of which involve the use of a fixed print head and a polyester ribbon coated with ink:<br /><ol><li>As a disc and the print ribbon are forced under the print head, tiny pixels are heated and cooled to melt the ink off of the polyester film.</li><li>Thermal retransfer printers use the same basic steps but, instead of printing directly to the disc, the image is printed on the underside of a retransfer ribbon. The retransfer ribbon is then fused with the disc. This method will help cover any irregularities that may be on the disc surface and provides additional UV protection to your disc art.</li></ol>Polyline has just added Rimage thermal printers and publishers to our disc publishing product line. We're still working on the marketing materials, but feel free to call us at 1-877-807-8095 to ask about the Rimage line.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AskDean/~4/izX0EIu4cyU" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Dean Engelnoreply@blogger.com0http://askdeanslist.blogspot.com/2011/06/how-do-thermal-disc-printers-work.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3044674795811536315.post-7277255076313235742011-06-02T08:30:00.002-05:002011-06-02T08:30:02.266-05:00Is It Possible for a Disc to Fall of Its Hub During Shipping?<b>Q: I just bought a new DVD in its original packaging and, when I opened the box, the disc was loose. It’s an older movie. Is it possible it wasn’t really “new” as advertised? Or is it possible for the discs to fall off their hubs during shipping?</b><br /><br /><b>A:</b> It’s absolutely possible for discs to pop off their hubs and move around during shipping. In our business, we call these “floaters.”<br /><a name='more'></a><br />The problem could be caused by a push button hub. Push button hubs are the darlings of end users (who don't want to worry about cracking their discs while removing them from the original case). With thin DVD cases or cases made of inexpensive (recycled) plastic, however, the button can get pushed from the weight of other DVD cases in the carton. Also, poorly designed hubs that don't fit the disc snuggly can cause the disc to come loose when the DVD package is jostled, as it would be during shipping.<br /><br />For a great DVD case (with push button hubs) that resists floaters, check out our <a href="http://www.polylinecorp.com/productlist.asp?OPT=1-disc-DVD-case-for-auto-loaders">DV141 Series of DVD Cases</a>.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AskDean/~4/1xeQGQdcY58" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Dean Engelnoreply@blogger.com0http://askdeanslist.blogspot.com/2011/06/is-it-possible-for-disc-to-fall-of-its.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3044674795811536315.post-15842165819207696082011-05-31T08:30:00.003-05:002012-03-19T10:25:42.102-05:00What is a WaterShield DVD?<div style="width: 220px; float: right; border: 1px solid #888888; padding: 3px; margin: 3px;"><p align="center"><a style="font-weight: bold; text-deocration: none; color: #000" href="http://www.polylinecorp.com/Search.asp?SCRIT=watershield">WaterShield<br />Discs</a><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://www.polylinecorp.com/Search.asp?SCRIT=watershield"><img border="0" src="https://www.polylinecorp.com/images/products/jvc-ws-dvdrs.jpg" width="200" height="200"></a></p><p align="center"><a href="http://www.polylinecorp.com/productlist.asp?OPT=070051500200000550">WaterShield<br />DVD-Rs</a><p align="center"><a href="http://www.polylinecorp.com/productlist.asp?OPT=070061000120001025">WaterShield<br />CD-Rs</a><br /></div><b>A: </b>The JVC/Taiyo Yuden WaterShield CD-Rs and DVD-Rs are discs that repel water so that your inkjet printed disc art can resist smudges and smears. The added bonus was the protective surface also created a super-glossy look. In essence, they leveled the playing field by creating an inkjet printable disc that was an affordable and viable competitor of thermal printed discs. <br /><br />Since the introduction of Watershield, other disc makers have created water resistant inkjet printable discs. In addition, JVC/Taiyo Yuden and other manufacturers have created new finishes that are either glossy or water-repellent in an effort to create more (and more affordable) options for today’s professional disc duplicator.<br /><br />Here are some of the new WaterShield alternatives that are available:<br /><ul><li><b>JVC/Taiyo Yuden “PrintPlus!”</b> What can I say about PrintPlus! media? It’s water resistant. It’s JVC/Taiyo Yuden. And it’s got a matte finish. </li><ul style="list-style-type: none;"><li>PrintPlus! DVD-Rs, starting at $.426/ea. <a href="http://www.polylinecorp.com/productlist.asp?OPT=jvc-printplus-inkjet-dvdr">Order here</a>.</li><li>PrintPlus! CD-Rs, starting at $.433/ea. <a href="http://polylinecorp.com/productlist.asp?OPT=JVC-printplus-cd">Order here</a>.</li></ul><li><b>Falcon “Smart Guard.” </b>These feature a water-resistant, inkjet glossy surface.&nbsp; The Smart Guard layer offers a superb bright photographic finish, excellent ink absorption. It is also resistant to smudges and bleeding due to moisture and humidity.</li><ul style="list-style-type: none;"><li>Smart Guard DVD-Rs, starting at $.701/ea. <a href="http://polylinecorp.com/productlist.asp?OPT=falcon-smart-guard-dvd-r">Order here</a>.</li><li>Smart Guard CD-Rs, starting at $.595/ea. <a href="http://polylinecorp.com/productlist.asp?OPT=smart-guard-cds">Order here</a>.</li></ul><li><b>Falcon Glossy Inkjet.</b> If you like the super glossy look of Smart Guard but want something that’s more affordable (and the whole, water-resistant thing is unimportant to you), Falcon’s Glossy Inkjet discs are a good alternative. Glossy Inkjet printable offers a high gloss finish with superior color contrasts reproducing true-to-life glossy photo quality printing at an affordable price.</li><ul style="list-style-type: none;"><li>Glossy Inkjet DVD-Rs, starting at $.264/ea. <a href="http://www.polylinecorp.com/productlist.asp?OPT=Falcon-Pro-DVD-R-inkjet-printable">Order here</a>.</li></ul><li><b>MBI AquaShield.</b> Water-resistant and glossy, plus the benefits of MBI’s Professional Select Discs (like a hub center that doesn’t show tonal variations when you use edge-to-edge printing). </li><ul style="list-style-type: none;"><li>AquaShield DVD-Rs, starting at $.546/ea. <a href="http://www.polylinecorp.com/productlist.asp?OPT=mbi-aquashield-dvd-rs">Order here</a>.</li><li>AquaShield CD-Rs, starting at $.503ea. <a href="http://polylinecorp.com/productlist.asp?OPT=mbi-aquashield-cdr">Order here</a>.</li></ul></ul><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AskDean/~4/7VT_UTPNoS8" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Dean Engelnoreply@blogger.com1http://askdeanslist.blogspot.com/2011/05/what-is-watershield-dvd.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3044674795811536315.post-75281766631549823812011-05-26T10:57:00.002-05:002012-03-21T09:37:30.778-05:00How Do I Store my DVD Collection?<b>Q: How can I store my DVD collection? I assume the original case is probably the best option but I have hundreds of movies and they are taking over my home. </b><br /><b><br />A: </b>When storing your DVD collection, you want to:<br /><ol><li>Protect the discs from scratches. Polycarbonate, <a href="http://askdeanslist.blogspot.com/2011/01/what-type-of-plastic-is-used-in-cds.html">the material used to make optical discs</a>, is very strong. If it gets too many scratches or nicks on its surface, however, the DVD player’s laser won’t be able to focus on the data beneath the polycarbonate, rendering it unreadable.</li><li>Protect your DVDs from warping and bending. Store your discs vertically (like a book). Prolonged horizontal storage can warp the disc, which means it wouldn’t spin properly in the drive. </li></ol><br /><a name='more'></a><br />I’ve mentioned this packaging before but, for <a href="http://askdeanslist.blogspot.com/search/label/archiving%20discs">archiving discs</a>, I really like <a href="http://polylinecorp.com/Search.asp?SCRIT=unikeep" target="_blank">Univenture’s Unikeep disc wallets</a>. The binders close tightly, which helps prevent the disc sleeves from sagging, drooping or otherwise not standing up vertically. The binders are also very “square” so they fit nicely on a bookshelf. (If you’ve ever tried to store a large number of traditional three-ring binders on a shelf, you’ll understand why this is a benefit.)<br /><br />You can get these binders preloaded with Safety Sleeves. Safety Sleeves are made of polypropylene, which degrades slowly and is chemically non-aggressive. So, basically, the sleeve won’t get gooey and stick to your disc. Safety Sleeves also have a nonwoven fabric liner that not only protects your disc from dust but actually wipes/cleans the data side of your disc every time you slide it in and out of the sleeve.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AskDean/~4/jcOIb-TR8xQ" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Dean Engelnoreply@blogger.com0http://askdeanslist.blogspot.com/2011/05/how-do-i-store-my-dvd-collection.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3044674795811536315.post-80925855182451187012011-05-10T05:00:00.001-05:002011-05-10T05:00:10.643-05:00What are measurements for CD sleeves?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MgcRbGKr3vI/TcRnrlWnN6I/AAAAAAAAADI/8cc-LoTaoqA/s1600/discsleevemeasure.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212px" j8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MgcRbGKr3vI/TcRnrlWnN6I/AAAAAAAAADI/8cc-LoTaoqA/s320/discsleevemeasure.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div>Measurements vary depending on manufacturer and design. But, we’ve found that most standard, paper disc sleeves measure 5 inches wide by 4-7/8 inches tall. (The flap on most paper envelopes is 1.5-inches.)<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AskDean/~4/kZEawpAd_tc" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Dean Engelnoreply@blogger.com0http://askdeanslist.blogspot.com/2011/05/what-are-measurements-for-cd-sleeves.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3044674795811536315.post-11716219502450038612011-05-03T05:15:00.003-05:002011-05-03T05:15:00.275-05:00What kind of paper should I use for my DVD insert?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.polylinecorp.com/CD-and-DVD-printable-insert.asp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Click to see Polyline's CD and DVD inserts." border="0" height="256" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GGIX-yehrGk/TaxZ6X5rbnI/AAAAAAAAADE/2WHGUtkzGCI/s320/Jewel-%2526DVDcases_with_insert.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />1. Select the best paper for your printer. If your using an inkjet printer, select inkjet paper.<br /><br /><br />2. Glossy papers take longer to dry, but the finished look is polished and professional.<br /><a name='more'></a><br />3. Thicker, heavier paper helps prevent inks from bleeding through the paper and also help create a professional look. Don’t just look at the stated “pounds” either, consider whether it’s text paper, cover paper, bond paper, etc. (If talking about 100lb text paper, that means that 500 sheets of 25 x 38” paper weighs 100 poundss. With cover paper, it would be 500 sheets of 20 x 26” paper. The cover paper weighs the same amount for smaller size sheets, so it would be heavier. Get it?)<br /><br />4. If you don’t have a paper cutter, I recommend selecting an inert paper with scored edges. Polyline carries a great line of <a href="http://www.polylinecorp.com/productlist.asp?OPT=Inserts-for-DVD-cases-NEATO-compatible">DVD inserts</a> with scored edges, including inserts made of glossy paper. <br /><br />5. Select the brightest white paper you can find. A smooth paper with a whiter surface reflects light more evenly and creates cleaner-looking colors.<br /><br />6. If you want to make an insert with a bleed (where colors/printing goes all the way to the edges of the insert), look for an insert where the description says something like “<a href="http://www.polylinecorp.com/productlist.asp?OPT=Inserts-for-DVD-cases-full-bleed">centered, full bleed</a>.” These are created so that you’ll print past the edges of the insert and then remove the extra edges.<br /><br />7. Don’t forget to include a <a href="http://www.polylinecorp.com/productlist.asp?OPT=Booklet-for-inside-DVD-case">booklet</a> inside your DVD case. You can use it as a mini-catalog for your other products/services, or provide additional information that would be useful to your customers.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AskDean/~4/h6jVuGowKcM" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Dean Engelnoreply@blogger.com0http://askdeanslist.blogspot.com/2011/05/what-kind-of-paper-should-i-use-for-my.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3044674795811536315.post-81261724093522351012011-04-28T05:15:00.003-05:002011-04-28T05:15:00.366-05:00What is the difference between the types (generations) of LTO?<table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="95%"> <tr> <td rowspan="2" valign="bottom"><br /> <p><b>Generation</b></p> </td> <td colspan="2" valign="bottom"><br /> <p align="center" style="text-align:center"><b>Capacity</b></p> </td> <td nowrap rowspan="2" valign="bottom"><br /> <p><b>Data Transfer Speed</b></p> </td> <td rowspan="2" valign="bottom"><br /> <p><b>Additional Features</b></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="bottom"><p align="center" style="text-align:center"><b>Native </b></p> </td> <td valign="bottom"><br /> <p align="center" style="text-align:center"><b>Compressed</b></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="bottom"><br /> <p><b><a href="http://www.polylinecorp.com/category-three.asp?DVD=Data-Tape-cartridges-|-LTO-Ultrium-Tapes-|-Ultrium-1">LTO-1</a><br /> <br /> </b></p> </td> <td valign="bottom"><br /> <p>100GB<br /> <br /> </p> </td> <td valign="bottom"><br /> <p>200GB<br /> <br /> </p> </td> <td valign="bottom"><br /> <p>40<br /> MB/sec<br /> <br /> </p> </td> <td valign="bottom"><br /> <p>&nbsp;<br /> <br /> </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="bottom"><br /> <p><b><a href="http://www.polylinecorp.com/category-three.asp?DVD=Data-Tape-cartridges-|-LTO-Ultrium-Tapes-|-Ultrium-2">LTO-2</a><br /> <br /> </b></p> </td> <td valign="bottom"><br /> <p>200GB<br /> <br /> </p> </td> <td valign="bottom"><br /> <p>400GB<br /> <br /> </p> </td> <td valign="bottom"><br /> <p>80<br /> MB/sec<br /> <br /> </p> </td> <td valign="bottom"><br /> <p>&nbsp;<br /> <br /> </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="bottom"><br /> <p><b><a href="http://www.polylinecorp.com/category-three.asp?DVD=Data-Tape-cartridges-|-LTO-Ultrium-Tapes-|-Ultrium-3">LTO-3</a><br /> <br /> </b></p> </td> <td valign="bottom"><br /> <p>400GB<br /> <br /> </p> </td> <td valign="bottom"><br /> <p>800GB<br /> <br /> </p> </td> <td valign="bottom"><br /> <p>160<br /> MB/sec<br /> <br /> </p> </td> <td valign="bottom"><br /> <p>Write<br /> Once Read Many (<a href="http://askdeanslist.blogspot.com/2011/01/what-does-worm-mean.html">WORM</a>)<br /> cassettes available.<br /> <br /> </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="bottom" ><br /> <p><b><a href="http://www.polylinecorp.com/category-three.asp?DVD=Data-Tape-cartridges-|-LTO-Ultrium-Tapes-|-Ultrium-4">LTO-4</a><br /> <br /> </b></p> </td> <td valign="bottom"><br /> <p>800GB<br /> <br /> </p> </td> <td valign="bottom"><br /> <p>1.6TB<br /> <br /> </p> </td> <td valign="bottom"><br /> <p>240<br /> MB/sec<br /> <br /> </p> </td> <td valign="bottom"><br /> <p>Write<br /> Once Read Many (<a href="http://askdeanslist.blogspot.com/2011/01/what-does-worm-mean.html">WORM</a>)<br /> <span style="mso-spacerun:yes">&nbsp;cassettes available.<br /> <br /> </p> </span><br /> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="bottom"><br /> <p><b><a href="http://www.polylinecorp.com/category-three.asp?DVD=Data-Tape-cartridges-|-LTO-Ultrium-Tapes-|-LTO-Ultrium-5-Tapes">LTO-5</a><br /> <br /> </b></p> </td> <td valign="bottom"><br /> <p>1.5TB<br /> <br /> </p> </td> <td valign="bottom"><br /> <p>3TB <br /> </p> </td> <td valign="bottom"><br /> <p>280<br /> MB/sec<br /> <br /> </p> </td> <td width="351" valign="bottom"><br /> <p>1.<br /> Write Once Read Many cassettes available.<br><br /> 2. All tapes include partitioning feature that allows one partition to<br /> hold the index, which tells the drive exactly where a file is located. The<br /> second partition holds the content.<br /> <br /> </p> </td> </tr></table><br /><p>The future generations of<br />LTO will offer what you probably expected, a higher amount of capacity and<br />faster data transfer speed. Here’s what you can look forward to in the years<br />to come:<br /><br /></p><ul style="margin-top:0in"> <li>Generation<br /> 6: 8 TB capacity and data transfer speed up to 525 MB/s<br /> <br /> </li> <li>Generation<br /> 7: 16 TB and data transfer speed up to 788 MB/s<br /> <br /> </li> <li>Generation 8: 32 TB and data transfer speed up to<br />1,1180 MB/s</li></ul><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AskDean/~4/QGg0kNd0TvQ" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Dean Engelnoreply@blogger.com0http://askdeanslist.blogspot.com/2011/04/what-is-difference-between-types.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3044674795811536315.post-23354182228976897422011-04-26T05:15:00.026-05:002011-05-25T13:44:56.464-05:00What is the best shatter-proof CD case that can hold literature?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a alt="Click to View Polyline's Poly Jewel Box" href="http://www.polylinecorp.com/productlist.asp?OPT=CD-jewel-case-poly-standard-size" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vT_y6n9mNPg/TaxJ-VmvSGI/AAAAAAAAADA/gtGJFJCTOi8/s1600/PSP52C.JPG" /></a></div>Shatter proof CD cases are made of polypropylene, a sturdy little plastic we have a lot of love for, here at Polyline. (Read about the <a href="http://polynewsline.blogspot.com/2008/06/differences-between-polystyrene.html#Polypropylene">properties of polypropylene</a> on the polyNEWSline blog.) To get one that holds literature, you’re going to want to pick one that has the same (or similar) dimensions to a traditional CD case.<br /><a name='more'></a><br /><br /><iframe src="http://polylinecorp.com/special/ADS_CDINC/custom.htm" width="500" height="175" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p></iframe><br /><br />I can recommend any of the following:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.polylinecorp.com/productlist.asp?OPT=CD-jewel-case-poly-standard-size">The Poly Jewel Box</a>:&nbsp;You’ll need to purchase a <a href="http://www.polylinecorp.com/productlist.asp?OPT=020010000100000200">one disc tray</a>, which is sold separately. The lid can hold an insert card or booklet up to 1/16” thick. It looks cloudy when it’s empty, but I’ve seen this box loaded with graphics and it still looks pretty good. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.polylinecorp.com/productlist.asp?OPT=020010000400000140">Slim, Clear, Polypropylene Jewel Cases</a>: The disc snaps into the bottom. It can hold a 4 3/4 X 4 ¾” insert card, liner notes. This is quickly becoming one of our most popular cases.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.polylinecorp.com/productlist.asp?OPT=020010000400000500">Polybox Jewel Case</a>: The disc snaps onto the bottom. The lid (front) accommodates an insert card or booklet up to 4-3/4 x 5-3/16 x 1/16". This is one of our older style cases and remains pretty popular. We also offer this style <a href="http://www.polylinecorp.com/productlist.asp?OPT=020010000400000510">with a clear overlay</a>. So you can create some beautiful cover art.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AskDean/~4/4PY5rXowIxA" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Dean Engelnoreply@blogger.com0http://askdeanslist.blogspot.com/2011/04/what-is-best-shatter-proof-cd-case-that.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3044674795811536315.post-8632403853788869332011-04-21T05:15:00.001-05:002011-04-21T05:15:00.850-05:00What is LTO tape?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.polylinecorp.com/LTO-Ultrium-Tapes.asp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Click to See All Polyline's LTO Products" border="0" height="200" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SkPZhi1AHQs/TaxH_BGfsHI/AAAAAAAAAC8/rh_YdXRqL0Y/s200/quantumlto.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>It’s magnetic tape used for data storage. <a href="http://www.polylinecorp.com/LTO-Ultrium-Tapes.asp">LTO</a> stands for Linear Tape Open. It was originally developed in the late 1990s by HP, IBM and Quantum. LTO is widely used with small and large computer systems, usually for backup, but also for archiving.<br /><a name='more'></a>Magnetic tape has been used for data storage for more than 50 years and LTO provides excellent performance and capacity in both stand-alone and automated environments. LTO has a large amount of lifespan and if you are normally writing only 50% of the tape’s capacity this will double the tape’s lifespan. <br /><br />Every <a href="http://www.polylinecorp.com/LTO-Ultrium-Tapes.asp">LTO cartridge</a> has a cartridge memory chip inside it. It is made up of blocks of memory, and this memory can be read and/or written, and is used to identify tapes, to help drives discriminate between different generations of the technology, and to store tape-use information.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AskDean/~4/RF0Dwxsohsk" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Dean Engelnoreply@blogger.com0http://askdeanslist.blogspot.com/2011/04/what-is-lto-tape.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3044674795811536315.post-74183309816519261182011-04-19T06:00:00.001-05:002011-04-19T06:00:13.408-05:00What can I print with a LightScribe disc burner?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://polylinecorp.com/Search.asp?SCRIT=lightscribe" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="259" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fUi5u6Cn7bM/Tai4d-Kt-nI/AAAAAAAAAC4/IZ-RdltNAt8/s320/logolow.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>In theory, you should be able to print any design to a LightScribe CD or DVD. I’ve seen some awesome examples online and a quick Google image search will give you plenty of inspiration.<br /><br /><div></div>Now, I say “in theory” because the two primary weaknesses of LightScribe burners are (1) they are incredibly slow and (2) they are monochromatic. Still, I like them for home use or anyone who produces discs infrequently. Plus, because many new laptops and desktops come with LightScribe enabled burners built-in, the startup costs are really, really low.<br /><br /><div></div>There are a few things that can help you create more effective LightScribe designs:<br /><a name='more'></a><br /><ul><li>LightScribe burners etch the disc in concentric circles starting at the center of the disc. So, by creating a design with heavier graphics on the interior and light or no graphics toward the outer edge will allow you to etch your disc more quickly. (Using LightScribe’s “content mode” burns a decorative border around the hub.)</li><li>Crank up the contrast. LightScribe creates gray scale images. The deeper the colors appear in your original image, the darker they will burn on the disc. </li><li>Make use of the preview function. It can take a long time to print your disc. Imagine etching your entire disc on “best” mode only to discover you misspelled something on the cover.</li><li>Try making a negative of your image. This can create a unique and dramatic look for your disc.</li><li>For really deep tonal values, you can burn your image twice! LightScribe software can automatically align the disc to make sure the images line up correctly.</li></ul><div>Check out our great prices on <a href="http://www.polylinecorp.com/productlist.asp?OPT=Microboards-LightScribe-CD-R-Discs">LightScribe CD-Rs</a> and <a href="http://www.polylinecorp.com/productlist.asp?OPT=Microboards-LightScribe-DVD-R-Discs">LightScribe DVD-Rs</a>. And, if you have plans for that inkjet or thermal disc printer in your future, sign up for our Earn Money to Burn customer reward program earn 2% of all your disc purchases back in the form of EM2B dollars, which can be used toward the purchase of new disc printing equipment or extended warranties.</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AskDean/~4/R2XH-MM8sOM" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Dean Engelnoreply@blogger.com0http://askdeanslist.blogspot.com/2011/04/what-can-i-print-with-lightscribe-disc.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3044674795811536315.post-10835394088244865772011-03-15T05:30:00.001-05:002011-03-15T05:30:00.716-05:00What are P2 cards?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-WzNTyvWwN7I/TXVYeVw2-sI/AAAAAAAAACs/-hT_dD-Hyhw/s1600/P2Cards_eSeries.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" q6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-WzNTyvWwN7I/TXVYeVw2-sI/AAAAAAAAACs/-hT_dD-Hyhw/s400/P2Cards_eSeries.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>P2 Cards are digital video storage for all you video professionals out there. They are a flash memory card and their data transfer rate increases as memory capacity increases. <br /><a name='more'></a><br />The P2 card records the same way that digital still cameras record onto memory cards – they store the footage as pre-digitized computer files. Instead of recording the video as video data, the P2 cards record the footage as computer data files. These files are instantly editable and can be transferred to other computer storage devices directly. P2 Cards are recorded in sequence, and when a card is full, it can be swapped out while another card is recording. This limits recording time only by power supply and the available amount of cards.<br /><br />P2 Cards are still seen in the production world as a maturing format, since storage media is so costly, and little has been done to address archiving tape-less productions. That means, you have to come up with your own way to archive your raw footage. Most of our customers are archiving on tape, like LTO. (Kind of ironic, huh?)<br /><br />There are various P2 cards out there on the market. So, what is the difference between them all? Well, it’s all about capacity. P2 cards are available in capacities of 4, 8, 16, 32GB and 64GB. <br /><br /><div></div>The most popular ones can be broken down as follows:<br /><ul><li>16GB Card delivers long record times, no-moving-parts reliability and the benefits of an IT file-based workflow.</li><li>32GB provides recording capacity greater than most tape-based and disc-based systems.</li><li>64 GB memory cards have improved 800 Mbps transfer rates and provide even greater recording capacity with faster transfer and offload performance.</li></ul><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AskDean/~4/aadrfFWGKSM" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Dean Engelnoreply@blogger.com0http://askdeanslist.blogspot.com/2011/03/what-are-p2-cards.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3044674795811536315.post-87583994366610701402011-03-10T10:16:00.001-06:002011-05-25T13:45:37.976-05:00How much does a standard jewel case weigh?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-sCOgeZ1sa18/TXVZ6InQH3I/AAAAAAAAACw/u7M_H4lV6nY/s1600/jewelcases.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" q6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-sCOgeZ1sa18/TXVZ6InQH3I/AAAAAAAAACw/u7M_H4lV6nY/s400/jewelcases.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pictured are a standard sized jewel case and a slimline jewel case.</td></tr></tbody></table>It depends on the plastic content of the case. Cases with higher plastic content are heavier, but are considered higher-quality cases.<br /><a name='more'></a><br /><iframe src="http://polylinecorp.com/special/ADS_CDINC/custom.htm" width="500" height="175" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p></iframe><br />From our own product line, our <a href="http://www.polylinecorp.com/productlist.asp?OPT=assembled-CD-jewel-cases-for-1-disc">highest quality one-disc, standard size, assembled jewel case</a> weighs approximately between 2.24 and 2.88 ounces.&nbsp; The variation depends a lot on what color tray you're using (black trays weigh more than clear). <br /><br />Our <a href="http://www.polylinecorp.com/productlist.asp?OPT=slimline-CD-jewel-cases-standard">slimmest slimline CD jewel case</a> weighs between 1.4 and 1.52 ounces each. <br /><br />Of course, these are both standard, polystyrene jewel cases. Jewel cases made with polypropylene weigh less.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/AskDean/~4/IzgBp_gkvIM" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Dean Engelnoreply@blogger.com0http://askdeanslist.blogspot.com/2011/03/how-much-does-standard-jewel-case-weigh.html